Learning through blurting
Blurting in learning is a study technique where you quickly write down everything you can remember about a topic without worrying about structure or organization. It is also known as a memory dump. Blurting can be used to revise for exams, learn new information, or consolidate your understanding of a topic.
To blurt, simply read over a section of your notes or textbook and then close the book and write down everything you can remember. Don't worry about making mistakes or being perfect. The goal is to get your thoughts down on paper as quickly as possible. Once you are finished, you can go back and review your blurting to see what you know and what areas you need to focus on more.
Blurting is an effective learning technique because it forces you to actively recall the information. When you blurt, you are not simply reading and rereading your notes. You are actively thinking about the information and trying to remember it. This helps to encode the information in your long-term memory.
Blurting can be used to learn any type of information, from facts and figures to concepts and theories. It is a particularly effective technique for learning new information or consolidating your understanding of a topic.
Here are some tips for using blurting effectively:
Set a timer for 5-10 minutes and challenge yourself to write down as much as you can remember about the topic in that time.
Don't worry about making mistakes or being perfect. The goal is to get your thoughts down on paper as quickly as possible.
You can blurt in any format you like, such as writing, typing, or talking.
Once you are finished blurting, go back and review your notes to see what you know and what areas you need to focus on more.
Blurting is a simple but effective learning technique that can help you to improve your knowledge and understanding of any topic.
Variation
Use a voice transcriber to dictate your blurt
Focus on questions, assumptions and uncertainties. Consider a case or topic
What questions can you think of?
What assumptions are you making?
What are you uncertain about?
Medical students on GP placements can use blurting in a variety of ways to learn. Here are a few suggestions:
Before each placement: Blurt down everything you can remember about the clinical conditions and presentations you are most likely to encounter. This will help to refresh your memory and identify any areas where you need to focus your learning.
After each patient consultation: Blurt down everything you can remember about the patient's history, examination findings, diagnosis, and management plan. This will help you to solidify your understanding of the case and identify any areas where you need to further research.
At the end of each day: Blurt down everything you can remember about the new things you learned that day. This will help you to consolidate your learning and make it more memorable.
Blurting is related to a number of ideas, theories, and principles in learning and cognitive psychology, including:
Active recall: Blurting is a form of active recall, which is the process of retrieving information from memory without any cues or prompts. Active recall is a much more effective way to learn and remember information than passive review (such as rereading notes or highlighting text).
Elaboration: Blurting encourages elaboration, which is the process of connecting new information to what you already know. Elaboration helps to deepen your understanding of the information and make it more memorable.
Feedback: When you review your blurting notes, you are able to identify the areas where your understanding is weak and focus your learning on those areas. This feedback loop helps you to learn more effectively.
Dual coding theory: Dual coding theory posits that information is better remembered when it is encoded in both visual and auditory form. Blurting can help to achieve this by requiring you to both write down the information (visual encoding) and think about it (auditory encoding).
Levels of processing theory: Levels of processing theory states that information is better remembered when it is processed more deeply. Blurting can help to promote deeper processing by requiring you to think about the information and organize it in your own words.
Cognitive load theory: Cognitive load theory posits that there is a limited amount of cognitive resources available for learning. Blurting can help to reduce cognitive load by spreading out the learning process over time and by allowing you to focus on the most important information.
Priming: When you blurt, you are essentially priming yourself for further learning. By exposing yourself to the information in a different way, you are making it easier to recall it later on.
Spacing effect: The spacing effect is the phenomenon that information is better remembered when it is learned over multiple sessions. Blurting can help to achieve this by allowing you to review the information multiple times in a short period of time.
Metacognition: Metacognition is the ability to think about your own thinking. Blurting can help to promote metacognition by requiring you to reflect on your understanding of the information and identify areas where you need to improve.
Overall, blurting is a complex learning technique that is influenced by a variety of factors. However, the theories and principles discussed above can help to explain why blurting is an effective way to learn and remember information.
Augustin, M. (2014). How to Learn Effectively in Medical School: Test Yourself, Learn Actively, and Repeat in Intervals. The Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine, 87(2), 207-212. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4031794/
Medical Teacher. (2023). Learning techniques that medical students use for long-term retention: A cross-sectional analysis. [online] Available at: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/0142159X.2022.2137016?scroll=top&needAccess=true [Accessed 27 Oct. 2023].